We received a briefing from the high command that an inscrutable varmint cong infiltrator had been harassing and undermining one of our repair and supply bases.  I spoke with the facility commander who advised me he had spotted them to the south just lounging in the sun and eating grass.  My trusty spotter and I advised him we are a covert unit, but we will take care of the problem.  

We proceeded to the area where we found that the VC had been undermining buildings, no doubt for evil purpose.  We set up with our equipment a bone stock Savage Axis .243 non accutrigger, but latest model.  Having seen long eared friendlies in the fields we chose a 58gr Vmax loaded at 3700 feet per second to minimize collateral damage. We waited. And waited.  And waited some more.  

My spotter used the time to catch up on literature ( I think Captain underpants ) in between scans with his Binoculars. A quick scan, nope another friendly.  Then I saw movement to the west, we were being flanked at 60 meters. My spotter got on his glass and quickly confirmed a large fat VC was coming out of the bush and slowly moving towards the repair building.

I got on my glass and cycled the bolt on the Savage.  Smooth as glass ( as smooth as one can get for $350 ).  I dialed in the parallax on my Vortex Crossfire II and put the crosshairs on Bustards chest.  I released half a breath and gently squeezed the factory 3lb trigger.  Boom.  Perfect hit high chest.  It flipped, and died right there. I cycled the bolt again.  We held position in case it was bluffing.  

Nope, Buzzard meat.



I reported to high command, engaged enemy, destroyed same.  We are out.

The only evidence we were there. A single shell casing.

Wow, the write up is more impressive than the kill.

It's art.

Summer Camo. Grandson and I may go back out this evening.  I'm gonna wear the same shirt.  It's lucky.

Another one down. This one made it into the deep grass. We found the blood trail but lost it. Tough shot in tall grass with sun glare in the scope.

OK, today I was back at the same farm. The neighbor spoke to me last night. The one burrowing by his pool and deck got away from him yesterday and ran to my friends barn. Same one that eluded me Tuesday.

I set up between the pool and the barn with a safe angle to where I had previously seen him. I proceeded to surf arfcom and wait.

About 20 minutes later I feel weight on top of my shoes. I look down and the groundhog was on top of my feet. It looked up at me. I was stunned. I did nothing as it slowly walked to the other end of the barn where there was no safe shot. It vanished under the foundation.

I am flummoxed,  insulted, and waiting for   that SOB.

As consolation I got one at the other neighbor on the way back here. That idiot stood in its hole in an open field while it watched me 80-90 yds away set up my tripod, load my rifle settle the crosshairs and promptly put one through his chest,  he was dead right there.

This savage 243 is like the best raffle prize ever.

Uh thats a groundhog.  It looks nothing like a Coyote which looks more like a dog.

Today's beastie. 162yds I am completely sold on Savage rifles.